This Week's Syllabus: Sept. 30-Oct. 6
__FAB FIVE
MEN
The Cowboys held serve at home, winning the Ping/Golfweek Preview with Peter Uihlein and Kevin Tway leading the way. Added to its T-2 finish at Olympia Fields, it's hard to argue the way OSU has started the 2010-11 season.
Next event: Jack Nicklaus Invitational, Scioto CC, Columbus, Ohio, Oct. 11-12
2. Florida (2)
It's been four years since the Gators won a fall tournament (2006 NCAA Preview), making their Olympia Fields victory either a fluke or an impressive sign of things to come.
Next event: Jerry Pate Invitational, Old Overton Club, Birmingham, Ala., Oct. 11-12
3. Alabama (4)
After Carpet Capital victory, Crimson Tide post an admirable fourth-place showing at Olympia Fields. Meanwhile, U of A fans should take pleasure in the fact that the school has won the Jerry Pate event the past four years.
Next event: Jerry Pate Invitational, Old Overton Club, Birmingham, Ala., Oct. 11-12
4. Augusta State (2)
Solid if not spectacular start for the Jaguars to the 2010-11 season. T-2 at Olympia followed by T-4 at the Ping Preview. Henrik Norlander responds after so-so start to 2010-11 season.
Next event: Brickyard Intercollegiate, The Brickyard at Riverside, Macon, Ga., Oct. 8-10
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OK, you could say the Hawkeyes' win at the Golfweek Conference Challenge should have an asterisk because it was at a course in Iowa. But the victory this week at the Fighting Irish Invitational can't be "written off" quite so easily. Is somebody ready to challenge Illinois' hold on the Big Ten Conference?
*Next event: *Rod Myers Invitational, Duke University GC, Durham, N.C., Oct. 10-11
__WOMEN
A year ago the Tigers started the season with a victory at the NGCA match play tournament but fizzled the rest of the fall. This time around, the Tigers look like they have more bite, losing by just one stroke to Alabama at the Preview than winning the Mason Rudolph. Most impressive part is their 35 under score for the first six rounds of 2010-11.
Next event: Tar Heel Invitational, UNC Finley Course, Chapel Hill, N.C., Oct. 8-9
2. Alabama (1)
The Crimson Tide come back down to earth with sixth place finish at Mason Rudolph. Still have yet to have a over-par round as a team however, which has to help maintain their confidence.
Next event: Tar Heel Invitational, UNC Finley Course, Chapel Hill, N.C., Oct. 8-9
3. USC (2)
Transfer Lisa McCloskey continues to play as solidly as she did as an amateur last summer. Have to think the Trojans chances are pretty good to finish better than third in the Pacific Northwest this week.
Next event: Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational, Tacoma Country &GC, Lakewood, Wash., Oct. 4-6
4. Purdue (3)
Now that's a little more like it ... Boilermakers were actually tied for the lead with a few holes to play before finishing second at the Mason Rudolph.
Next event: Windy City Collegiate, Northmoor GC, Highland Park, Ill., Oct. 4-5
5. Virginia (NR)
The Cavaliers showed just how talented they are (when they're not playing inconsistently) with a final-round one-under 287 allowing them to storm back and claim the Golfweek Conference Championship in Colorado.
Next event: Tar Heel Invitational, UNC Finley Course, Chapel Hill, N.C., Oct. 8-9
__STAT OF THE WEEK
__[#image: /photos/55ad70edb01eefe207f6777d]|||Nicole Zhang.jpeg|||
__50
__Percentage of the total sub-par rounds posted at the Mary Fossum Invitational (six) that were carded by Notre Dame freshman Nicole Zhang (three).
Indeed, it was a shame the 18-year-old's college debut took place the same weekend as the Mason Rudolph Women's Championship, overshadowing one of the more impressive starts in recent memory. Zhang (right) shot rounds of 69-67-71 at the Forest Akers GC in East Lansing for a nine-under 207 to win the individual title by nine strokes over Kent State's Martina Gavier. Zhang's score was 13 strokes better than third-place__Caroline Powers__ of Michigan State and 19 stokes better than the twosome tied in 10th place. The overall scoring average was 78.65 while Zhang averaged 69.00.
"I was really proud of Nicole this weekend," said Fighting Irish women's coach Susan Holt. "She is a special player for us, and she definitely lived up to our expectations."
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RANDOM THOUGHT OF THE WEEK
__Can we actually get on with playing the Ryder Cup already? Everybody else who is sick of all the pre-tournament nonsense, raise your hand?
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WHAT TO WATCH FOR
__* Some history was made during the first round of last weekend's Wisconsin Badger Invitational. For the first time in her college career, North Dakota State's Amy Anderson didn't post the best score for the Bisons in a college tournament. With a five-over 77, Anderson was bested by teammate Rachel Roller's 71 at University Ridge GC in Verona, Wis., ending a string of 32 rounds in which Anderson had literally led ND State's charge.
Anderson, the 2009 U.S. Girls Junior champion, turned many heads when she decided to stay in her home state of North Dakota, playing at a college only a few years removed from moving from Division II, rather than attend a more high profile program with a deeper roster. Being near home and getting a chance to take her winter break were more important for Anderson than playing at a "big-time" school. The move of course pleased coach Matt Johnson, not simply because having a player with a 74.0 stroke average might help improve the school's results, but having Anderson around on a daily basis to assist the rest of the team might help the entire tide rise, if you will. That Keller, a junior, did beat Anderson suggests that the plan might actually be working. And in the final round, the Bison set a school record with a 18-over 306 score.
The question will be if Anderson can be beaten again anytime soon. Of course if Anderson's teammates get better, and can push Anderson, it would only help the All-American caliber player improve too.
__TOURNAMENT PREVIEW
MEN
William H. Tucker Invitational
__ (For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)
UNM Championship Course, Albuquerque
Oct. 1-2
Host: New Mexico
Field: Arizona, Baylor, BYU, Colorado, New Mexico, North Texas, Northern Colorado, Pepperdine, San Diego State, UTEP, UT-San Antonio, Toledo, Utah, Wyoming
__Defending champion:__UNLV (21-under 843) by 16 over San Diego State; UNLV's Colby Smith and Derek Ernst (eight-under 208)
Skinny: Entering its 56th playing, the Tucker is the second oldest regular-season event in college golf behind the New England Intercollegiate. The tournament is named in honor of a English golf course architect and former UNM groundskeeper.
__Gary Koch Intercollegiate
__Old Memorial GC, Tampa
Oct. 2-3
Host: Auburn/Kentucky
Field: Auburn, Coastal Carolina, College of Charleston, Florida State, Georgia Southern, Kentucky, Middle Tennessee State, North Carolina, UNC Greensboro, North Florida, South Florida, Virginia
__Defending champion:__Florida State (30-under 834) by 16 strokes over Texas Tech; Auburn's Kyle Kopsick (15-under 201) by two strokes over Florida State's Seath Lauer __ __
Skinny: Tournament resumed a year ago after a six-year hiatus. Schools from the state of Florida (North Florida, Florida, Florida State) have won six of the eight times the event has been played.
__D.A. Weibring Intercollegiate
__Weibring GC at Illinois State, Normal, Ill.
Oct. 2-3
Host: Illinois State
Field: Akron, Bradley, DePaul, Creighton, Detroit-Mercy, Drake, Illinois, Illinois State, Iowa State, Louisville, Loyola, Missouri State, Nebraska, Northern Illinois, Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, Western Illinois
__Defending champion:Illinois State (33-over 873 by 15 over Western Illinois; Illinois State's Jeff Kellen (one-under 209) by six strokes over Western Illinois' Brian Scott __
__Skinny:__Can anyone really challenge Illinois at this event? Says here no.
__Cabo Invitational
__ (For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)
Querencia GC,
Oct. 2-4
Host: Santa Clara
Field: Arkansas, Boise State, CSU-Northridge, Houston, Lamar, Oregon State, Pacific, Santa Clara, SMU, St. Mary's (Calif.), Texas-Arlington, UC-Irvine
Defending champion: New event
Skinny: Santa Clara coach Rob Miller believes by hosting a top quality invitational event it will help the program be able to get into other strong events through reciprocal invitations.
__Wolfpack Intercollegiate
__ (For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)
Lonnie Poole GC, Raleigh, N.C.
Oct. 4-5
Host: N.C. State
Field: Arkansas-Little Rock, Campbell, East Carolina, Duke, Francis Marion, George Mason, Georgia State, Lynn, Maryland, Memphis, Navy, N.C. State, Rhode Island, UNC Wilmington, VCU, Wake Forest, Western Carolina
__Defending champion:North Carolina (eight-over 860) by seven strokes over Duke; Duke's Adam Long (one-over 214) __
Skinny: Event first played last spring on N.C. State's new course.
__Rees Jones Intercollegiate
__Haig Point, Dauguskie Island, S.C.
Oct. 4-5
Host: Michigan State
Field: Alabama State, Charletson Southern, Jackson State, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Liberty, Michigan State, San Jose State, South Carolina, Tennessee State, Winthrop, Wofford
__Defending champion:South Carolina (five-over 869) by 37 strokes over UNC Wilmington; South Carolina's George Bryan IV and Paul Woodbury (two-under 214) __
Skinny: The Gamecocks enter the tournament as the favorite and are the only school to have won the team title as the event is played for a third year.
__Louisiana Tech Squire Creek Classic
__Squire Creek, Choudrant, La.
Oct. 4-5
Host: Louisiana Tech
Field: Arkansas State, Houston Baptist, Jacksonville State, Louisiana Tech, McNeese State, UMKC, Nicholls State, Rice, Sam Houston State, S.E. Louisiana, Southern Mississippi, Troy
__Defending champion:__New Orleans (10-over 854) by nine strokes over UNC Wilmington; S.E. Louisiana's Cedric Scotto (six-under 210) by one stroke of New Orleans' Ken Looper and Sebastian Szirmak
Skinny: A pair of top-four finishes has the host Bulldogs ranked No. 57 by Golfstat, highest in the program's history.
__WOMEN
William K. Warren Irish Invitational
__ (For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)
Warren GC, Notre Dame, Ind.
Oct. 2-3
Host: Notre Dame
__Field:__Cincinnati, Georgia State, Illinois, Indiana, Kent State, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Toledo, UT-San Antonio
__Skinny:__Warren GC hosts second big tournament in two weeks after being the site of this summer's U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship.
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Johnie Imes Invitational
__ (For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)
Club at Old Hawthorne, Columbia, Mo.
Oct. 4-5
Host: Missouri
Field: Arkansas-Little Rock, Baylor, Colorado, Florida International, Illinois State, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Missouri State, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Princeton, Texas State, Wisconsin
Defending champion:
Skinny: The host Tigers are raising money for breast cancer research in conjunction with the tournament. Sponsors have been recruited to donate money for every birdie the team makes.
__Windy City Collegiate Championship
__ (For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)
Northmoor GC, Highland Park, Ill.
Oct. 4-5
Host: Northwestern
Field: East Carolina, Iowa State, New Mexico, Northwestern, Purdue, San Diego State, TCU, Texas Tech, UCF, UNC Greensboro, UNC Wilmington
__Defending champion:__Purdue (four-under 860) by 14 strokes over Tulane; Purdue's Maude-Aimee LeBlanc (five-under 211) by one stroke over Michigan's Ashley Bauer
Skinny: Third year for the event.
__Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational
__ (For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)
Tacoma Country & GC, Lakewood, Wash.
Oct. 4-6
Host: Washington
Field: California, Gonzaga, Idaho, New Mexico State, Oregon, Oregon State, Pepperdine, San Francisco, San Jose State, Stanford, UC Davis, USC, Washington, Washington State
__Defending champion:California (33-over 897) by 15 strokes over Stanford; San Jose State's Katrin Delen Briones (three-over 219) by one stroke over San Francisco's Natasha Podmore
Skinny:__ The event celebrates its 29th year. Because of Sahalee CC, the usual host course, having held the U.S. Senior Open, the event has been moved for a year.